OVER THE TRANS-ALAI 
149 
The next morning at daybreak, when my men went out to 
see after the horses, they caught sight of seven wolves 
sneaking away in the direction of Kizil-art. 
Wolves are very common in those regions. During 
the summer they haunt the Alai valley, and levy tribute 
upon the Kirghiz flocks of sheep. The Kirghiz sheep- 
dogs can see them more than a mile off ; but are frequently 
outwitted by the wolves, who will hang about a flock for 
weeks at a time, persistently spying out for a favourable 
opportunity to seize their prey. They are extremely 
bloodthirsty and murderous ; and, if by any chance they 
light upon an unprotected flock, will kill every sheep 
BOR-DOBA 
in it, leaving not a single animal alive. Not many weeks 
previously a single wolf had in the course of one night 
bitten to death 180 sheep belonging to a Kirghiz of 
Utch-teppe. But woe betide the wolf that has the ill- 
luck to be wounded by the Kirghiz, and falls alive 
into their hands. They force open his mouth, thrust 
a short, thick piece of wood between his jaws, and lash 
them all firmly together. Another heavy piece of wood 
is fastened to one of his feet, to prevent him from running 
away. Then they torture him to death. On one occasion 
I was instrumental in putting an end to a horrible scene 
of this kind. _ .. 
When the great winter snows fall in the Alai valley, 
